At church tonight the pastor explained sin. I have heard it explained this way from the pulpit before. I have also heard it explained this way in books. Dannah Gresh had a very detailed explanation with pictures and diagrams in her book, "5 Little Questions." (A great read by the way.) The Old Testament root word is chata or hatta. It is a term used in archery that means "to miss the mark." The Greek word used in the New Testament for sin is hamartano. This makes it a bit clearer being defined as "to miss the mark and so not to share in the prize."
Pastor Fidel referenced 1st Timothy 1:15 "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief."
Sinners would be those that miss the mark.
With that definition, which I do believe is most accurate, it pretty much qualifies us all. And speaking of the writer of 1st Timothy 1:15, Paul, saying he is the chief sinner, most definitely qualifies me. Study out the incredible ministry of Paul. The same Paul that wrote over half of the New Testament. He is "chief" sinner? Well, I must be "Big Time Sins Alot On A Daily Basis Princess!"
The word chief, is protos, meaning a prototype, an example, the first of these. Paul is saying, quite humbly and honestly, "I am the worst here." He says this not to beat up on himself, play victim mentality or to discourage us. He says it to, and I am quoting Pastor Fidel, "So others can look on and see what God can do with me. A former blasphemer, persecutor and insolent man." These catchy and descriptive titles can be found in the few verses right above 15 in 1st Timothy 1.
The Pastor's message went on to say that Jesus came to deliver, heal and complete you. I know this is must be news for Renee Zelwigger. She thought Tom Cruise completed her in "Jerry McGuire!"
As I took notes in tonight's service I thought about those 3 parts of saving...
deliver
heal
to complete or make whole.
I also thought about missing the mark, or target and I couldn't help but think about one of my favorite stores, Target.
I must confess to you all that I am one who has enjoyed "retail therapy" way too many times to count. I must also admit that this "retail therapy" has taken place at way too many Target's. I must also admit that I have actually picked neighborhoods and houses by our direct location to a Target store. I don't make my decisions based on this criteria any longer, but I once did.
I just could not help the neon blinking sign flashing before me as Pastor Fidel preached. Target, I mean, look at their logo. It's a big red target. Then, as if the Holy Spirit had not stirred my heart enough...
Pastor Fidel said, "Delivering and unlocking the chains of bondage does not have to be bondage to a chemical addiction. It can be from fear, doubt, maybe anxiety."
I knew instantly where the Lord was taking me. I wish, or maybe not, I knew the number of times I have relieved my anxiety by going to Target and missed the mark! So, this information I am about to share with you is not from one who is looking down in judgment or condemnation. It is simply from one who has "been there and done that" more than just a few times! So, take heart my fellow sojourner, really take it to your heart and maybe, as Beth Moore so often says, "You may not have to take the field trip on this one!"
Ready?
Are you sure?
I might just step on a few feet on this one.
But here goes anyway.
It started out when he would work nights. I was lonely and pregnant. Not usually a good position to be in. I hated being alone and because we lived in a metropolitan area, it didn't matter what time it was. Pretty much everything was open at anytime. I also, would get my creative bursts at odd times and I never liked cooking, eating and cleaning up all by my lonesome. So, I would go to the shopping plaza, literally, 2 blocks from our house. I would eat out and then go to the brand new Target. Target stayed open until 11:00 pm. : )
When I would walk in the automatic doors with a full belly and clean restrooms to my right, all was well in the world according to me! After my "pit stop," I would go straight about 10 clothes racks and to the right, where I would run into the Maternity section. Joy would overtake me. I would go through the racks like a kid in a candy store. There was always something on sale I could pair it with a full price item. A perfect match. Sometimes, if all the stars would line up just right, two sale items marked down really low could be paired with one full price item. A full giggle and smile just could not be contained at that point! People did stare.
If it was a day I had listened to John MacArthur or Charles Swindall on Christian radio, my conscience might fidget a bit. I always knew how to close the deal, though. Calculate in my head when the next paycheck was and go try it on. Once outfits were assembled in the dressing room and I modeled in the 3 way mirror at the end of the dressing rooms, I had to purchase the outfit. It looked way too cute! If my conscience still was flip flopping, not too common at this point in my Christian walk but it did occasionally happen, I would just justify loaning them out to my friend at church who was trying to get pregnant with her second baby.
Upon leaving the dressing room with my cute little ensembles, I would head straight to the aisle past shoes on the left. There I would find a whole section dedicated to baby paraphernalia that was way too irresistible to pass by. The endcaps closest to the shoes is where you could always find marked down merchandise. A new baby growing in my tummy. I really never needed much justifying for this part of the trip. I pretty much went with "I need this."
I spent most of my time in this section. I combed every row and rack, every bin and shelf. I was meticulous when it came to locating just the right thing for the new baby! This baby was a 4 year long waiting miracle from God. This baby had been conceived with prayer and signs and wonders...no expense should be spared. At least that was my mind set.
The rest of the trip would go fairly unpredicted and unstructured depending on whether I needed Tide or Motrin. Complete opposite directions from one another. I always ended up in the book and music section before making my way to the register for check-out. I would discipline myself most times and only get one or the other. Sometimes I needed a book, other times a CD. It just ended up on my mood. I would always pick one or the other, though.
Unloading my items onto the conveyor belt was never pleasant. It is in the unloading that I would start estimating the cost of my "needs and wants" and the stomach would start to feel it. My heart would speed up a little, my palms would start increasing the temperature and I would just hurry and put everything on the counter and stop calculating. I never liked math anyway.
Idle chat with the cashier would calm me down somewhat, and if she liked what I picked out and made a comment, well, my spirits would soar. This meant confirmation that I truly did need this. If the cashier agreed and thought it was adorable, all the better. Sometimes I would even luck out and she might say something like, "This just got marked down this morning." I was on cloud nine if that happened. Praise the Lord, it was on sale!
Pushing my cart of happiness to the car would bring a renewed sense of guilt and I would promise God that I would not do this again until I actually put next week's paycheck in the bank and paid the mortgage. I promise! I promise! I promise!
Lonely, anxiety, sadness, guilt, and bad moods never let me keep those promises. Most addictions never do let you keep your promises.
Which leads me to why we, sinners, need to be delivered, healed and made whole. Only the Lord can do that. New maternity clothes, even f they are 50% off, the cutest baby onesie you have ever seen or a new sipee cup won't do any of these. A charming and successful hubby, a devoted best friend, a house full of children or a mansion in the fanciest neighborhood with the best schools and a Starbucks down the street won't deliver, heal or complete you. I've had all of those things I mentioned above and take it from me... I've been on the field trip. They don't do those things. Only One I know can and will.
King Solomon concluded and recorded it for all of us in Ecclesiastes, to avoid the field trip of seeking after worldly possessions: whether it be vanity, pleasure, great accomplishments, hard labor, human religion, wealth, children, the future, or wisdom. In Ecclesiastes 12:7 and 8 he wrote, " Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. Vanity of all vanities," says the Preacher, "All is vanity."
When you and I turn to dust, it really won't matter if we toted a Coach handbag, wore JimmyChooChoo's, or looked good in a pair of Lucky jeans. It won't matter if we had all the money we wanted, or that our children always had matching bows and polka-dotted rain boots that coordinated with the diaper bag that cost more than the car seat. It just won't matter.
I would be amiss if I said I never wanted those things. Because my heart longs for polka dots, monograms, big hair bows and pretty diaper bags. I was raised in the south and hold these near to my heart. I love staying at fancy hotels, enjoying room service and sipping on Starbucks Tazo Earl Grey. I use 1 Splenda and organic half and half. I love buying a new bathing suite at the mall where they have the latest styles and cutest prints with matching and trendy cover-ups. They are way overpriced but I love the feel and look of their merchandise. I even like the way they wrap it in tissue paper, place it in their shopping bag and walk around the counter and hand it to you. I love the way Target smells and I love getting anything on sale! I don't think I have ever passed a bookstore without going in and 75% of the time buying a book. These things are nice and I enjoy them all.
They don't control me anymore, though. I have turned a corner. As much as I enjoy the Cheesecake Factory where my standard order is the baja chicken taco's and Linda's hot fudge cake with whipped cream on the side, I don't live for it anymore. I live for Jesus. I live for spending time in the Word or in prayer with my Starbuck's tea bags I buy at Publix. I would rather give up an hour of sleep to be with Him than anything else in this world. All those things are nice, they are, but as the song so aptly describes the things of this world, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction..."
If you started laughing at my story and are now feeling a boatload of guilt because you never thought anyone else in the world got that excited about a diaper bag or Target, take a deep breath. The enemy speaks condemnation not our Lord. "There is therefore now no condemnation in Christ Jesus." This is a verse in Romans. One I repeat to myself often. Whose words are you listening to? The enemy or the Deliverer, the Healer, or the One who can and does complete you?
Turn a corner my friend. Choose not to miss the mark. Go to the One who will let you enter the throne room boldly to receive mercy and grace. Get out your Bible, have a cup of tea, open up that journal. Look up what He has to say about you...Psalm 139 is a great starting point. Turn to Hebrews 4:15 and 16 to see how He knows are struggles and allows us into His royal chambers. Flip through Joseph's story in Genesis and see in chapter 50, verse 20 how God turns around what was meant for evil. Read the Psalms and listen to David, a man after God's own heart, fails time after time after time, and sinks into the depths of despair and gets up and dances joyfully before the Lord. Have you studied Job lately or read of the orphan girl who became queen? Turn off the daytime soap operas, come out of your own drama for a minute and give your self to the only One who can give you what you need.
If you live close to Target, and need to go pick-up toilet paper or dish soap, take your Bible, a limited amount of cash, 3 or 4 children, even if you have to borrow a neighbor's, and go at lunch or nap time. Trust me on this one, it is humanly impossible to do too much damage with that combination!
